BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center

C.S.H.B. 830

84R30512 AAF-D

By: Larson; Bernal (Campbell)

 

Transportation

 

5/18/2015

 

Committee Report (Substituted)

 

 

 

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

As an iconic shrine of Texas liberty, the Alamo attracts people from around the world to visit the structure and experience its story. Interested parties note that both the preservation of the shrine and the educational programs that help tell its story are costly and therefore contend that a new revenue source is needed to provide for educational programs and to improve visitors' experiences at the Alamo.

 

C.S.H.B. 830 seeks to provide this additional revenue through the issuance of specialty license plates. C.S.H.B. 830 amends the Transportation Code to require the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) to issue specialty license plates that include the image of the Alamo and the word "Remember" at the bottom of each plate. The bill requires the remainder of the fee for issuance of the license plates, after deduction of TxDMV's administrative costs, to be deposited to the credit of an account in a trust fund outside the general revenue fund created by the comptroller of public accounts of the State of Texas. The bill requires the Texas General Land Office to use 75 percent of the money deposited to the account for the preservation of the Alamo and the remaining 25 percent of the money to enhance the Alamo visitor experience or to fund education programs about the Alamo.

 

C.S.H.B. 830 amends current law relating to the issuance of Alamo specialty license plates.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter G, Chapter 504, Transportation Code, by adding Section 504.665, as follows:

 

Sec. 504.665. ALAMO LICENSE PLATES. (a) Requires the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) to issue specialty license plates that include the image of the Alamo and the word "Remember" at the bottom of each plate.

 

(b) Requires that the remainder of the fee for issuance of the license plates, after deduction of TxDMV's administrative costs, be deposited to the credit of an account created by the comptroller of public accounts of the State of Texas (comptroller) in the manner provided by Section 504.6012(b) (requiring that the portion of a fee payable under this subchapter that is designated for deposit to a dedicated account, on and after September 1, 2013, be paid instead to the credit of an account in a trust fund created by the comptroller outside the general revenue fund). Authorizes money deposited to that account to be used only by the Texas General Land Office as follows:

 

(1) 75 percent of the money shall be used for the preservation of the Alamo; and

 

(2) 25 percent of the money shall be used to enhance the Alamo visitor experience or to fund education programs about the Alamo.

 

SECTION 2. Effective date: January 1, 2016.